Combination watchman, patrol, and fire-alarm transmitter



- Oct. 7, 1924.

J. D. NELSON COMBINATION WATCHMAN, PATROL, AND FIRE ALARM TRANSMITTER Filed Oct. 8-, 191'? Patented Oct. 7, 19.24.

1.51am ENE.

TET

JAMES I). NELSON, or CINCINNATI, oIIIo.

COMBINATION WATCI-IMAN, PATROL, AND FIRE-ALARM TRANSMITTER.

Application filed October 8, 1917. Serial No. 195,228.

Transmitters, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to combination signal transmitters.

An object of my invention is to produce a signal transmitter in which the signals to be transmitted have to be selected in advance of their being sent, by conditioning the box previous to their transmission, the operator having but to perform his winding operation without thought fof the' result, after the box has been so conditioned.

A further object is to produce a signal transmitter in which the operation of the mechanism for sending one signal, positively prevents the accidental sending of another signal.

These and other objects are attained in the signal transmitter described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a transmitter embodying my invention, the enclosing casing being removed for convenience of illustrationj Figure 2 is a side elevation of my improved transmitter, certain portions being shown in section for convenience of illustration.

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2. I

The transmitter embodying my invention consists of front and back plates 4 and 5 respectively, which are held apart by means of the usual spacing posts 6 and in .which suitable bearings are formed for shafts 7, S. 9, l and 11. Shaft 7 is disclosed as the driving shaft with the inner end of an actuating spring 12 attached thereto, as well. as having rotatively mounted thereon a gear 13. Gear 13 and spring 12 are located between front and back plates 4 and and upon a forward extension of shaft 7 the winding lever 14 of thetransmitter is secured, the usual ratchet connection being provided between lever 14 and gear 13. In front of lever 14 an arcuate member '15 is rotatively mounted, this member having a series of gear teeth 16 at one end of its curved edge 17 and a downwardly extending arm 18 adapted to engage a pin 19 extending from the frontplate to limit the motion of the arcuate member. Member is retained normally in the position shown in Figure 1 by means of a retractile spring 20 secured to it and pin 19. For the operation of the transmitter for certain signals, lever 14 is employed and for the purpose of operating it a handle 21 is provided, a pin 22 being mounted upon the front plate for the purpose of retaining the lever in its normal position. A pin 23 upon the front plate, limits the Winding movement of lever 14. To retain arcuate member 15 in the normal position disclosed in Figure l, I have provided a pin 24 which extends from the front plate.

Upon arm 18 of the arcuate member I have provided a pin 25 which with the forwardly extending end of shaft 7 are received by the respective recesses 26 and 27 of an operating key 28 which is employed for operating the transmitter in sending signals other than those sent. upon operation of lever 14 only. Pivotally mounted upon the front plate 4 at a point 29 is a pawl 30having lugs 31 and 32 extending downwardly therefrom, lug 32 being adapted to engage a pin 34 mounted in lever 14 in such a position as toretain the pawl in the position shown in Figure 1 when the lever is in its normal position.

This holds lug 31 in an elevated position with relation to pin 33 of arcuate member 15. As soon as lever 14 is moved from its normal position, pin 34 carried thereby, disengages lug 32 and permits pawl 30 to drop and to bring its end 35 into engagement with a pin 33 extending from arcuate member 15. In this position of the pawl, lug 31 thereof is in position to prevent. signal transmitting movement. of the arcuate member should the operator attempt to; move the, member after lever 14 has been moved. This prevents the confusion of signals as will be hereinafter pointed out in the description. of the operation of my improved transmitten. I

Upon shaft 8 a pinion 36, which meshes with gear 13, is mounted. In addition to this pinion, shaft 8 has mounted thereon a gear 37 which transmits motion to shaft 9 through a pinion 38 mounted upon the shaft. This shaft also carries a gear 39 which meshes with a pinion 40 mounted upon shaft 10 which carries the escapement ratchet 41 adapted to cooperate with a pawl 42 in controlling the speed of opera.- tion of the transmitter. Shaft 9 like shaft 7, extends beyond front plate 4 and is provided with a sleeve 42 which also extends through the front plate. The forward end of shaft 9 extends beyond sleeve 42 and carries a disc 46 which is provided with a notch 47. Sleeve 42, carrying slotted disc 43, signal wheel 44, and the mutilated pinion 45, attached to signal wheel 44, is rotatively mounted upon shaft 9, and is operatively connected with the shaft by means of a pin 48, extending from gear 39, which engages in a slot 49 formed in the disc 43. When the signal wheel occupies the position disclosed in Figure 1, disc 43 occupies the position disclosed in Figure 3 pinion being in the position disclosed in Figure 1. Upon shaft 8 is rotatively mounted a brake shoe 50 which has its upper end 51 curved to form abrake on the disc 43 as disclosed in Figure 3, and which has its lower end 52 secured to the outer end of spring 12 as disclosed in Figures 1 and 3. Such an arrange ment places a tension upon the brake shoe.

Projecting from the front plate above disc 46 is a pin 53 upon which is rotatively mounted a swinging plate 54 which carries at one end a circuit breaker 55 and which is provided with a downwardly extending linger 56 which has a detent 57 adapted to engage notch 47 of rotating disc 46. A retractile spring 58 is provided for holding finger 56 in a position such that detent 57 normally engages notch 47 of disc 46. This maintains plate 54 in a position in which circuit breaker 55, which is mounted there on, has its operating end. held out of engagement with signal wheel 44. The circuit breaker disclosed is of ordinary type consisting of contact members 59 and with the end of member 60 adapted to engage the surface of signal wheel 44. The position of the circuit breaker when detent 57 is in engagement with notch 47, is such that it is brought into operative relation with signal wheel 44 as soon as disc 48 has been rotated to lift detent 57 out of notch 47.

In using my improved transmitter for sending a normal signal, such as a rat mans signal, key 28 is applied to shaft and pin 25 so that the respective recesses 2 and 26 of the key receive the shaft and the pin. The operator then turns the key in a clockwise direction so as to bring arcuate member 15 into such. a position that its nin 33 engages the edge of lever 14. The operation is continued to cause pin 33 to move lever 14 and to thereby wind up spring 12. Just before the arcuate member reaches the limit of its motion as fixed by pin 19 and arm 18, teeth 16 of the member engage teeth.

45 of the mutilated pinion of shaft 9. The

operator continues the winding motion to cause teeth 16 to rotate the pinion and to thereby rotate signal wheel 44. The rotation of the signal wheel stops as soon as long tooth 16 bearing against long tooth 45 of the mutilated pinion, pushes the teeth of the pinion beyond the point where they will be further influenced by teeth 16, at which time arm 18 engages pin 19. At the time of this partial rotation of the signal wheel during the winding operation, disc which is mounted upon sleeve 42 which also carries the signal wheel, is caused to rotate partially, with its brake shoe 50 in engagement therewith, slot 49 in the disc permitting of such a movement. This brings the slot to the dotted line position. disclosed in Fig. 3. Another feature of the preparatory partial movement of the signal wheel 44 during the winding operation, is that when lug 44 passes beneath end 60 of contact arm 60 of the circuit breaker, detent 57 of finger 56 occupies notch 47 of disc 46, thus permitting the circuit breaker to be held out of rotative contact with the signal wheel by spring 58. In this'operation lug 44 on signal wheel 44 is brought to a position beyond contact arm 60 of the circuit breaker so that subsequent rotation of the signal wheel will not bring this lug beneath the actuated end 6O of contact arm 60 to cause operation of the circuit breaker. Lug 44, if the signal wheel were left in the position disclosed in Figure 1, would cause a dash to be transmitted to the receiving ollice, but since it has been moved from. end 6O of arm 60, the number code portion only, of the wheel, will be brought into operative relation with the circuit breaker upon watchmans signal. sending operation. of the trai'ismitter. The winding operation having been completed, key 28 is removed from shaft 7 and pin 25, and arcuate member 15 is permitted to return to its normal position as disclosed in Figure 1, under influence of spring 20. Operating lever 14 now being freed, will gradually move back to its normal position in engagement with its stop pin 22 as the mechanism of the transmitter continues to operate.

The transmitter now sends a normal or watchmans signal to the receiving station and as its mechanism operates, by the unwinding of sprii J 12, thereby revolving the series of gear wheels, teeth 44 of the signal wheel pass beneath and in operative en gagement with end 60 of contact arm 60 of the circuit breaker, plate 54 having previously been moved to bring the circuit breaker into operative position, as soon as shaft 9. started to rotate to bring the notch 47 of disc 46 out of register with detent 57 of finger 56. Partial rotation of shaft 9 and disc 46 is permitted before rotation of signal wheel 44 is started. by reason. of the movement permitted pin 48 in slot 49 of disc 43 when the disc was advanced to bring its slot to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3. The. transmitter now continues to operate to send in the normal signal, which in the example will be as indicated by the signal teeth 44 on signal wheel 44. When the shaft 9 and disk 46 have made one rotation to bring notch 47 of the disc to register with detent- 57, circuit breaker 55 is removed from operative engagement with the signal wheel by means of the action of spring 58, lug 44 and lever 14 being brought simultaneously to the normal positions disclosed in Figure 1.

The detent 57 cooperates with the notch 47 in disc 46 in such manner that at the end of each revolution the detent 57 enters notch 47 which throws the end 60 0i contact arm 60 out of engagement with the signal wheel, thus rendering the circuit breaker inoperative. Obviously since the detent 57 is under slight tension of the spring 58 there is a tendency of the notched disc 46 to be positioned thereby at the end of each revolution thereof, the detent 57 seating in the notch 47.

The transmitter having thus been placed once more in its normal condition, an emergency signal, such as a patrol call or a fire alarm, may now be sent. An emergency signal is sent without having to use key 28, lever 14 being operated by handle 21 to engage its stop pin 23 to complete the winding operation of the transmitter. In preparing the transmitter for the sending of this emergency signal, arcuate member 15 and signal wheel 44 are permitted. to remain in the normal positions disclosed in Figure 1 and to prevent arcuate member 15 from being disturbed from its normal position, pin 34 as lever 14 is moved, disengages lug 32 to permit pawl 30 to drop into engagement with pin 33 of the arcuate member so that lug 31 of the pawl will stop any material movement of the arcuate member, whether it be accidental or otherwise, by abutting pin 33. The transmitter is now in condition to operate to transmit a special signal such as a fire alarm as soon as lever 14 is released.

Operation of the mechanism in transmitting such an emergency signal, causes disc 46 to move its notch 47 out of engagement with detent 57 of finger 56 and to thereby bring circuit breaker 55 into operative relation with the signal wheel. The wheel having been allowed to remain in the normal position disclosed in Figure 1, disc. 43 which is connected therewith, occupies the position disclosed in full lines in Figure 3 in which driving pin 48 of gear 39, is ready to rotate the signal wheel. As the signal wheel rotates, lug 44 and teeth 44 are successively brought beneath end 60 of contact arm 60 of the circuit breaker to transmit a signal The dash having preceded the remainingportion of the signal, the receiving instrument at the receiving station, will record the fact that an emergency signal has been sent as is indicated by transmitter is now in condition for the transmission of another watchmans signal or another emergency signal.

It w1ll be seen thatin my improved con struction I have provided a transmitter in which incorrect operation of the transmitter preparatory to the transmission of the proper signal, because of haste orexcitement, is rendered substantially impossible, the person who operates the transmitter, not

having to observe the exact position to which he moves the operating lever to con dition' the transmitter for sending any one of the signals which the transmitter is capable of sending. It will also be seen that I have so constructed the transmitterthat its use for the purpose of sending an emergency signal, is not confined to any particularly authorized person, the operation of the transmitter for the sending of a watchmans signal, necessitating the use of a special key for this purpose. In addition to this I have produced a construction in which it is practically impossible to place the transmitter in such a condition as to confuse the character of the signal to be sent, thus avoiding confusion of signals through tampering with the mechanism of the transmitter.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 I claim is:

1. In a signal transmitting device the combination with a notched signal wheel, of a circuit breaker having an elongated member for engaging the signal wheel, means for actuating the signal wheel comprising a springand gears, means for at times rendering the circuit breaker inoperative, a lever for winding the spring, a pivotally mounted arcuate member having means for engaging the lever and means for partially rotating the signal wheel while the circuit breaker is inoperative and detachable means for actuating the arcuate member.

2. In a signal transmitting device the combination of means for transmitting two dis tinguishable signals, comprising a signal wheel and a circuit breaker, means for rotatively actuating the signal wheel, means for at times rendering the circuit breaker inoperative, a winding lever for the actuating This mechanism, an arcuate member pivotal-1y mounted having means for causing a limited movement of the winding lever and having means for moving the signal wheel while the circuit breaker is inoperative, means for precluding movement of the arcuate member while the winding lever is being moved, and means for imparting motion to the arcuate member.

3. A selective signal transmitting device comprising a signal wheel having means for formulating a plurality of different signals, an actuating mechanism for the signal wheel, means for conditioning the actuating mech anism for operation and mechanical means actuated by the conditioning means for positioning the signal wheel independently of said actuating means to transmit one of said signals.

4. A signal transmitter comprising actuating mechanism, a single signal wheel for formulating two distinguishable signals, means for conditioning the wheel for operation, mechanism controlled by the conditioning means for conditioning the signal wheel to transmit but one of said signals, and a second mechanism for conditioning the signal wheel for operation to transmit the other of said signals and for simultaneously pre venting the operation of the first mentioned conditioning mechanism.

5. In a device of the class described the combination of spaced plates, a drive shaft mounted on the plates, a lever mounted on the drive shaft and adapted to move therewith, a second lever revolubly mounted upon the first lever, means adapted to transmit movement from the second-mentioned lever to the first mentioned lever, means to preclude movement of the second mentioned lever when the first mentioned lever is moved independently of the second mentioned lever, a signal wheel for formulating two distinguishable signals, means associated with the second mentioned "lever and the signal wheel whereby the movement of the second mentioned lever will actuate the signal wheel to select one of the signals, and means associated with the drive shaft yieldingly resisting movement of the first mentioned lever and adapted to actuate the signal wheel when the levers are released.

.lever when the first 6. In a device of the class described, the combination of spaced plates, a drive shaft mounted on the plates, a lever mounted on the drive shaft and adapted to move therewith, a second lever revolubly mounted upon the first lever, means adapted to transmit movement from the second mentioned lever to the first mentioned lever, means to preclude movement of the second mentioned mentioned lever is moved independently of the second mentioned lever, a signal wheel for initiating two distinguishable signals, means associated with the second mentioned lever and the signal wheel whereby the movement of the second mentioned lever will actuate the signal wheel to selectively initiate one of the signals, means associated with the drive shaft yieldingly resisting movement of the first mentioned lever and adapted to actuate the signal wheel when the levers are released, and means yieldingly resisting movement of the second mentioned lever.

7. In a device of the class described the combination of spaced plates, a drive shaft revolubly mounted on the plates, a lever mounted on the drive shaft and adapted to move therewith, a second lever mounted revolubly on the first lever adapted to impart movement to the first lever, the first mentioned lever being capable of movement independent of the second mentioned lever, a second shaft mounted revolubly upon the plates, a disc mounted on, and adapted to be moved with the second mentioned shaft, and capable of a limited rotatory motion independent of the shaft, a signal wheel, asso ciated with the disc, means associated with the second mentioned lever and the disc for imparting a limited rotatory motion from said lever to the disc, and means associated with the drive shaft adapted to be conditioned by the movement of the first mentioned lever to actuate the second mentioned shaft upon the release of the first mentioned lever.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this tth day of October,

JAMES D. NELSON. Witness:

IV. THORNTON BOGERT. 

